Counters spend three days at the few desert waterholes that do not dry up during the summer. The limited water sources mean counters are more likely to see animals as they come in to drink.

Last summer, sheep counters recorded 296 bighorn while enduring daytime temperatures that reached as high as 107 degrees. The highest number of sheep recorded was in 2009, when 356 were tallied.

The June 17 orientation is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the University of California Irvine Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center, 401 Tilting T Drive, Borrego Springs. Training will include bighorn sheep natural history, census methods, desert safety and preliminary site assignments.

Volunteers interested in participating in the count can contact the Anza-Borrego Foundation at (760) 767-0446, or email ab.sheepcount@parks.ca.gov.